Synergistic separation of imprinted composite membranes: Combining a porous graphene oxide skeleton with continuous MOFs nanolayers for superior selective separation

Abstract

Metal-organic framework (MOF)-based membranes have demonstrated exceptional performance in liquid pollutant filtration but face challenges in multiphase water treatment, including limited screening range and structural instability in solution. To address these limitations, we developed a hybrid matrix membrane by in situ self-assembly of UiO-66 nanoparticles onto oxygen-functionalized graphene oxide (GO) nanosheets. This design leveraged the large specific surface area and tunable pore architecture of the composite, where the UiO-66 framework enhanced pore space for efficient molecular capture while preserving high permeability. The optimized KH-570-UiO-66@GO imprinted membranes (KUG-IMs), fabricated via a click chemistry‑boron affinity imprinting strategy, achieved outstanding selectivity and separation efficiency for ribavirin (RBV). The KUG-IMs exhibited a static adsorption capacity of 35.42 mg g^-1 and dynamic adsorption performance of 32.05 mg L^-1, surpassing conventional membranes. Remarkably, the membranes maintained 90.18 % of their initial adsorption capacity after six consecutive adsorption-desorption cycles, highlighting exceptional operational stability. Selectivity studies revealed superior rebinding (α = 4.49, 4.99, 3.02) and permeation (β = 5.86, 4.18, 6.61) selectivity ratios against competing molecules. These results demonstrate a breakthrough in balancing flux and selectivity for MOF-based membranes, offering a robust platform for practical water purification and molecular separation applications. The structural integrity, high adsorption capacity, and recyclability of KUG-IMs position them as promising candidates for sustainable pollutant management systems.